Actor. He is best remembered for his portrayal of the straightforward Haywood Holbrook in "Paint Your Wagon" (1969). Born Benjamin Zikfin, while working as a truck driver he was discovered by director Archie Gottler while making a delivery at a studio commissary. Impressed by his humbleness, unique girth, and professionalism, he took notice of his potential and arranged for him to begin a career in the film industry beginning with him being under his supervision per a supporting role in "School for Romance" (1934). From there, he would go on to enjoy a successful career as a notable supporting character actor appearing in over 135 features; often typecast as boyfriends, sidekicks, faithful friends, soldiers, sailors, chauffeurs, waiters, photographers, detectives, reporters, bellboys, retail clerks, office workers, doctors, politicians, curmudgeons, landlords, neighbors, husbands, fathers, city slickers, businessmen, white-collared workers, cowboys, bartenders, and, in his later years, patriarchs. He appeared in such feature films as "I'll Be Suing You" (1934), "College Scandal" (1935), "Panic on the Air" (1936), "Wild Money" (1937), "His Exciting Night" (1938), "She Married a Cop" (1939), "The Farmer's Daughter" (1940), "Sing for Your Supper" (1941), "Captain of the Clouds" (1942), "Stage Door Canteen" (1943), "Up in Arms" (1944), "Radio, Take It Away!" (1947), "My Girl Tish" (1948), "Rose of the Yukon" (1949), "Loan Shark" (1952), "Public Pidgeon No. 1" (1957), and "Papa's Delicate Condition" (1963). During the advent of television, he became an even more familiar face appearing in such syndicated sitcoms as "I Love Lucy," "The Milton Berle Show," "Maverick," "The Life of Riley," "Leave It to Beaver," "The George Burns and Gracie Allen Show," "Maverick," "The Real McCoys," "M Squad," "Colt .45," "Alfred Hitchcock Presents," "The People's Choice," "Sugarfoot," "Schlitz Playhouse," "The Bob Cummings Show," "Hawaiian Eye," "Surfside 6," "Lawman," "Room for One More," "Cheyenne," "The Jack Benny Program," "77 Sunset Strip," "Broadside," "The Cara Williams Show," "F Troop," "Perry Mason," "The Bill Cosby Show," "Ironside," "Green Acres," "Julia," "Kojak," "Charlie's Angels," "The Love Boat," "Laverne & Shirley," "Beauty and the Beast," and "Out of This World". During his career, he was a member of the Screen Actors Guild, was supportive of the Motion Picture and Television Fund, had been a regular parishioner of the Temple Israel of Hollywood, was a member of the Hollywood Democratic Committee, was one of the founding members of the Canyon Theatre Guild, had been a theatrical instructor for the Pasadena Playhouse, was an honorary chairman for his local charters of the American Red Cross and Habitat for Humanity, and he was married to actress Margery Chapin from 1936 to 1945 (their union ended in divorce and produced two children). Upon his 1991 retirement, he spent the final years of his life being a regular attendee at autograph conventions, and was involved with numerous charitable and religious causes, until his death from complications of heart disease.